Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Snipping Tool

microsoft.com

Free plan Windows
Visit microsoft.com
Spec score 8.1 #14 of 40 in Screenshot tools

What it is

Snipping Tool is a free Windows utility for capturing screen images and video, then editing, saving, and sharing them. Image captures can use freeform, rectangular, window, or full-screen modes; video snips use a separate overlay. Windows+Shift+S opens image capture, while Windows+Shift+R opens video capture. A delay control provides a one-to-five-second countdown. Image snips support pen, highlighter, shapes, emojis, erasing, and cropping. Text actions use OCR to extract selected or all text and can redact email addresses or phone numbers. Microsoft says recognition runs locally on the device. Captures save automatically to the Screenshots folder, with settings to change saving behavior or the default folder. Recorded video can open in Clipchamp for editing, including captions or audio. The app ships with Windows 10 and Windows 11 and can be obtained from the Microsoft Store if missing. Scrolling capture is not supported.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Snipping Tool captures words or images from all or part of a PC screen for editing, saving, and sharing.Read 11 Oct 2026 · microsoft.com
Free plan
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Headquarters
Redmond, Washington, USARead 4 Oct 2026 · microsoft.com
Founded
1975Read 4 Oct 2026 · microsoft.com
Annotations
Users can mark up image snips with a pen, highlighter, shapes, or emojis, erase marks, and crop images.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Automatic saving
Captured snips are automatically saved to the Screenshots folder, and settings can change the save behavior or default folder.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Capture modes
It supports freeform, rectangular, window, and full-screen image snips, plus video snips.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Copilot+ PC features
Perfect screenshot and Color picker are identified as Copilot+ PC features; Perfect screenshot automatically frames prominent on-screen content.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Delay
The delay control can start a capture countdown of 1 to 5 seconds.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Distribution
Microsoft says Snipping Tool ships with Windows and can be obtained from the Microsoft Store if it is missing.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Intended use
Microsoft describes Snipping Tool as a way to capture and share screen content, and lists it as an alternative for screen recording and troubleshooting documentation.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Keyboard shortcuts
Windows+Shift+S opens the image capture overlay, and Windows+Shift+R opens the video capture overlay.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Local processing
Microsoft says all text recognition processes are performed locally on the device.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
OCR text extraction
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Platform availability
Microsoft Support says Snipping Tool applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Scrolling capture
NoRead 19 Sep 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Text extraction
Text actions uses OCR to extract text from a snip, with options to copy selected text or all text and redact email addresses or phone numbers.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com
Video editing
Recorded video snips can be opened in Clipchamp for editing, including adding captions or audio.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.microsoft.com

Plans and prices

Snipping Tool Free Windows app · Microsoft Store lists it as Free Read 11 Oct 2026 · microsoft.com

Every Snipping Tool plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free Windows utility
  • Image and video capture
  • Local OCR processing
  • Annotation and crop tools
  • One-to-five-second capture delay

Limits

  • Windows-only
  • No scrolling capture
  • Some features require Copilot+ PCs

Who it suits

It suits Windows users who need quick screenshots, screen recordings, annotations, or local OCR. It also supports troubleshooting documentation and sharing screen content.

Verdict

Snipping Tool covers common Windows screenshot and screen-recording tasks with annotations, OCR, and automatic saving. Video editing continues in Clipchamp, and scrolling capture is unavailable.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Snipping ToolAll alternatives →